Mission found in compliance with COPA, will meet with Park Ridge Health

Press release

From Mission Health

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 16, 2012) Mission Hospital announced today that it is pleased with the recommendation made by the North Carolina House Select Committee on CON and other Hospital Related Issues. The Committee recommended that Mission Hospital and Park Ridge meet before the end of the next Long Session of the 2013 General Assembly to discuss patient care in western North Carolina.

We are satisfied with the recommendation, and we want to thank the Committee for supporting our goal of avoiding distractions and remaining focused on our BIG(GER) Aim: getting each and every patient to the desired outcome, first without harm, also without waste and with an exceptional experience for the patient and family, said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, President and CEO of Mission Health. We very much appreciate the Committees support, even though this process has at times been a distraction from our critical work of serving western North Carolina and ignores the challenging issues facing our community. The simple reality is that western North Carolinians are older, poorer, sicker, less likely to be insured and more likely to have medical access problems than others in our state and nation.”

At yesterdays meeting the Committee considered final recommendations regarding North Carolinas Certificate of Need to be included in the Committees final report. The Committee also reviewed Mission Hospitals COPA compliance five-year assessment by independent accounting firm, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP (DHG), and even more comprehensive and longitudinal compliance data provided by Mission Health. DHG was retained by the State of North Carolina to assess and issue a report of findings on Mission Hospitals COPA compliance during the five-year period from 2007-2011. The report showed that Mission Hospital was thoroughly compliant in every matter of COPA significance.

We have always complied with and will continue to comply with the COPA, for so long as it exists, said Dr. Paulus. More importantly, we will continue to provide best-in-class, high-quality, low-cost and transparent care for all of those in western North Carolina regardless of their ability to pay. It is a pleasure to get back to the work that warms the heart and makes a real contribution to our community.

About Mission Hospital

Mission Hospital, the flagship hospital of Mission Health, is a not-for-profit hospital that serves as the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care in western North Carolina and the adjoining region. Mission Hospital is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina and houses the regions only dedicated Level II trauma center. It also includes Mission Childrens Hospital the regions only childrens hospital. Mission Hospital has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Childrens Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Womens Health. In 2012 Thomson Reuters named Mission Hospital as a Top 100 Hospital for the fourth consecutive year, and Professional Research Consultants ranked Mission Hospital in the top 15% nationally in patient satisfaction. Mission Hospital is licensed for 730 beds and employs more than 6,500 people, including over 1,800 RNs. Mission Hospital is committed to serving its community and improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.